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Delighted Afghan Children Receive UMCOR School KitsDate: October 17 2003 
At the beginning of September as the summer heat subsides, children across the world return to school. Pupils in Afghanistan are no exception. This year, heat delayed the start of term for two weeks. Because many children attend school in tents, outdoors under trees, or in the remains of bombed-out and war-damaged buildings, the weather was too extreme for them to gather. These children go to school in dire conditions.
In Rabat village in the district of Bagram, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) delivered 560 school kits, prepared by United Methodist volunteers, to boys and girls of primary school age. UMCOR Afghanistan staff and the school teachers distributed the kits, a process that took two hours.
The children were obviously thrilled to receive the kits, but the real fun began when they discovered that the parcels contained pencils, crayons, scissors, colored paper and more. Squeals of delight and giggling filled the tents as they played show-and-tell with each other, sporting their new school items. The teachers also received kits and were very happy to accept the much-needed supplies.
The Girls School in Rokha Was Not ForgottenRokha, in Pansheer district, is a three hour drive north of Kabul down a bumpy, windy gravel road. UMCOR recently reconstructed a school for 1,800 boys who now have a warm and dry structure in which they have lessons. The classes are offered in a morning shift and a day shift in order to accommodate the large number of children.
Last year, the 400 girls from Rokha and the surrounding area had to study sitting on the ground under shady trees. Recently UNICEF supplied the village with tents to accommodate primary school classes. The head master, Zarmina Faizi, politely requested that we not forget them and their need for a girl's school in Rokha. She added that the girls will not receive a full-year's education as the school is forced to close from November to March due to winter weather.
The girls were thrilled to receive their kits, as were their teachers. During our visit, we asked them about their experiences teaching under such circumstances. They are dedicated to broadening these girls' knowledge. In fact, the teachers asked if we would leave some extra kits, which they intend to use to institute an incentive award for girls who excell in their studies.
Some 3,000 schools, destroyed by 23 years of war, are still in need of repair throughout Afghanistan. The Taliban continue with their guerrilla war attempting to thwart the current progress being made. Under the Taliban regime, girls and women were forbidden to attend school so the teachers are grateful for the tents and supplies that have been provided to date. Teachers, such as these in Rokha, have great hopes that the much needed assistance will provide the appropriate facilities for their pupils and more importantly, help bring stability to their country.
UMCOR and ACT Distribute School Kits in CharikarDuring a visit to Afghanistan, Mieke Weeda from Action by Churches Together (ACT) International joined UMCOR on refugee returnee site visits to UMCOR's recently completed project in Rabat. She took the opportunity to meet and have lunch with some of the townswomen of Rabat. She also stopped at the new return site in Charikar, where Afghani returnees from Pakistan have been living in bombed out buildings since January.
She joined us as we delivered 100 school kits to girls at our new project in Charikar. The girls, ages seven to ten and dressed in multicolored outfits, were huddled into the corners of the bombed out school in order to find some shade. The school was destroyed as a result of ethnic cleansing in the Shamali plain, a former front-line between Taliban and Alliance forces. The remains of the building have no roof but the four walls provide a space which is be used as a school for 100 girls and 500 boys. UMCOR's implementing partner, Rural Rehabilitation Association of Afghanistan (RRAA) have suggested using a tent as a temporary school, but with winter on its way, this will not provide protection against the elements.
As in other villages, the children were in good spirits and delighted to receive the school kits. Mieke was able to hand out some of the packages and she was soon surrounded by the curious boys and girls. The teachers asked us to remember them and the need for repairs to the school and they invited us to return soon. It was good to hear education for females being so energetically endorsed despite the Taliban legacy. Recent statistics show that nearly 85 percent of the population in Afghanistan is illiterate and long-term development will depend on this newest war generation getting all the help they can to broaden their knowledge.
Many thanks to Mieke Weeda for joining UMCOR on this visit and many, many thanks to the United Methodist volunteers who took the time to put together the wonderful school kits that brought so much joy to children enduring so much hardship.
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Warren Harrity is Head of Mission of UMCOR.
UMCOR collects a variety of emergency kits, including school kits, for its work around the world. As the holidays approach, please consider preparing school, health, and other kits for those in need around the world. Get information and instructions on UMCOR's Emergency Kits web page or by calling 1-800-814-8765. You may also give to UMCOR's Material Resource Ministry, Advance #901440 Gifts may be made by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. Be sure to write Material Resource Ministry, Advance #901440 on the memo line of your check to UMCOR.
To help rebuild schools in Afghanistan, please contribute to Love in the Midst of Tragedy: Schools for Afghan Children, UMCOR Advance #901125. Give through your local United Methodist church or mail contributions to: UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Call 1-800-554-8583 to make a credit card donation. Be sure to write Schools for Afghan Children, UMCOR Advance #901125 on the memo line of your check to UMCOR.
You can also donate online to either of these Advance specials. Click here to make a secure online gift.
Photos: 1. In Rabat, Sayed Hofiani, an UMCOR Program Manager, and one of the school's teachers distribute school kits, a process that took two hours. 2. UMCOR Program Manager, Sayed Hofiani, and one of the school's teachers distribute school kits in Rokha. The girls were thrilled to receive their kits. 3. School girls in Charikar, ages seven to ten and dressed in multicolored outfits, huddle in the corners of the bombed out school in order to find some shade. 4. Under the Taliban regime, girls and women were forbidden to attend school. These girls and their teachers in Rokha are grateful for school kits and other supplies that have been provided. Credit: Warren Harrity, UMCOR/Afghanistan, September 2003. Click on any photo to see a larger version.